| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Joseph Johnson was born in Thearne near Woodmansey on 21 Feb 1897 and was baptised at Beverley Minster the 17 Apr 1897. His parents were originally from Lincolnshire and married at Wrawby on Boxing Day 1894. Henry Johnson was a market gardener; his wife was Emily (nee Leeson). The family’s surname was Johnson but very often the surname “Daggitt” was used instead for unknown reasons. Joseph was one of five children born into the family in Thearne.
Joseph was a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade 1912-1913 and was described as having “a good character” and was "very steady and reliable for long periods” though did suffer from “lapses of disinterestedness”. Joseph resigned in Dec 1913 and went to work as a labourer at the local whiting works but in Aug 1914 became a worker at the shipyard and joined a trade union indicating that he may have been an apprentice.
Joseph served as a driver, initially joining the Northern Battalion Territorial Force. On 20 Mar 1918 Joseph resumed his career at Beverley shipyard and like many of his contemporaries had been discharged from the Army on the grounds that he was a badly needed skilled worker. He was awarded the War and Victory medals.
Joseph married Elizabeth Campey in 1916, the daughter of a painter in Lairgate. They had two children Dorothy born 1916 and Joyce born 1920. Joseph died in Sep 1932, aged 55.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |